Skip to main content

Proposed further temporary closure at Mair Bank and Marsden Bank, Marsden Point, Whangārei, to the harvest of all shellfish

Update – 26 June 2024

Minister's decision

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries decided to temporarily close Marsden Bank and Mair Bank (Marsden Point) to the take of all shellfish between 29 June 2024 and 28 June 2026, inclusive.

Marsden bank and Mair Bank map [PDF, 542 KB]

Published gazette notice [PDF, 40 KB]
Pipi and scallop fisheries are closed under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

Customary fisheries management areas, rules, and maps

Consultation background

The Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, on behalf of the Patuharakeke hapū, requested a further 2-year temporary closure to the harvest of all shellfish from Mair Bank and Marsden Bank, Marsden Point.

Fisheries New Zealand invited written submissions about the requested closure from people who have an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

Section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in an area.

Find out more about temporary closures

Documents for the proposed closure

Request for the temporary closure [PDF, 647 KB]

Appendices to the request

Appendix A – Patuharakeke annual pipi monitoring update 2023 results [PDF, 2 MB]

Appendix B – Preliminary Results of Dragonfly data on Marsden Bank pipi February 2024 [PDF, 133 KB]

Appendix C – Ngātiwai Trust Board letter of support [PDF, 195 KB]

Appendix C – Te Rerenga Parāoa Rohe Moana tangata kaitiaki [PDF, 250 KB]

Coordinates and map of the proposed area

The proposed temporary closure covered all that area of New Zealand fisheries waters enclosed by a line:

  • commencing at a point on the mean high-water mark at the base of the Marsden Point oil refinery jetty (at 35°50.24'S and 174°29.91'E); then
  • proceeding in a north-easterly direction to a point at the seaward end of the Marsden Point oil refinery jetty (at 35°50.21'S and 174°29.95'E); then
  • proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangārei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 18 (at 35°50.32'S and 174°30.44'E); then
  • proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangārei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 16 (at 35°50.54'S and 174°30.94'E); then
  • proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangārei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 14 (at 35°50.76'S and 174°31.19'E); then
  • proceeding in a south-westerly direction to a point offshore (at 35°50.86'S and 174°30.50'E); then
  • proceeding due west to a point on the mean high-water mark (at 35°50.86'S and 174°29.65'E); then
  • proceeding along the mean high-water mark in a generally north-easterly then north-westerly direction to the point of commencement.

Map of the proposed Mair Bank and Marsden Bank temporary closure [PDF, 691 KB]

Public notices

A public notice about the call for submissions was scheduled to appear in the:

  • Whangarei Leader (10 April 2024)
  • Northern Advocate (10 April 2024)
  • Bream Bay News (18 April 2024).

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

MPI business units